Former Denver City Councilman Doug Linkhart[4] and state Sen. Mary Hodges, D-Brighton, at a Denver Rustler's event earlier this year.

Linkhart[5] — who pledged to legalize marijuana[6] and in my opinion had the best campaign slogan, “I Dig Doug” — is hosting a campaign debt retirement party with a list of Denver political heavyweights on Tuesday.

“Between my dad and myself my debt was $100,000,” Linkhart said. “My goal is to raise half of it. It’s just a cleanup from my campaign.”

The former at-large councilman who is now head of Denver’s environmental health department finished in fourth place with 10,752 votes in the May 3 municipal election[7] behind Chris Romer, Michael Hancock[8] and James Mejia.

Hancock, of course, went on to beat Romer in the June 7 runoff.

Linkhart had raised at least $256,000, including the loans, according to financial reports filed with the Denver’s clerk and recorder office.

He also was without work for a few months before Hancock selected him in October to be a member of his cabinet at a salary of $120,900 a year — much more than his old council salary of $78,173 a year.

Linkhart wasn’t the only one who had debt. Romer loaned himself at least $673,300[9] over the course of the election. Carol Boigon loaned her campaign at least $200,000; and Mejia had a loan of $11,500 still outstanding, according to the final financial report in June.

“Everyone was in debt in the top five,” Linkhart said. “It seems to be par for the course.”

The debt-retirement party at Sage Hospitality is being hosted by Hancock, Romer and former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. A donation of $250 is being suggested or a $1,000 sponsorship.